cliaz Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 It just seems to me that after "The Stand" he has lost the ability to tell a scary story. I'm watching Nightmares and Dreamscapes right now and it's aweful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PantherDave Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 It just seems to me that after "The Stand" he has lost the ability to tell a scary story. I'm watching Nightmares and Dreamscapes right now and it's aweful. \ *******Spoiler Alert for "Dark Tower-Book 7" below************ I'm still mega pizzed that Roland had to start the whole "Dark Tower" quest over again-I may never bye another King book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 It just seems to me that after "The Stand" he has lost the ability to tell a scary story. I'm watching Nightmares and Dreamscapes right now and it's aweful. bad tv adaptation does not necessarily equal a bad book/novella. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliaz Posted July 13, 2006 Author Share Posted July 13, 2006 bad tv adaptation does not necessarily equal a bad book/novella. nahh even his books have lost it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 nahh even his books have lost it. Just playin' devil's advocate, I don't read much fiction anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godtomsatan Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 His non-book projects that he involves himself in have never been any good. Think of all the good adaptations of his work. He's nowhere near the project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip_Side Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I agree, I remember that show he came out with "Kingdom's Hospitol" or something like that. It was so lame, got taken off the air real fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyalboyd Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 He lost it. But to a certain degree I wonder is it the producers having him tone it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonorator Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 i never got the same vibe from watching his movies vs. reading his books. his books are far darker ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 People get old and they lose their edge. Listened to any ripping Eddie Van Halen compositions recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonorator Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 People get old and they lose their edge. Listened to any ripping Eddie Van Halen compositions recently? you got any? i thought he was in hiding ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaumont Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 His non-book projects that he involves himself in have never been any good. Think of all the good adaptations of his work. He's nowhere near the project. I still like his work, including Dark Tower ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retrograde assault Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Only read two, The Shining and The Stand and really liked both, but I'm not a King fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Misfit Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 People get old and they lose their edge. Listened to any ripping Eddie Van Halen compositions recently? That's true in pop music, but not writing. Young writers tend to suck because they're too self-absorbed and haven't experienced anything. There are exceptions, of course, but there are far more young Jack Keroac types writing crap than, say, Rimbauds writing something substantive. That why most TV and movies are so horribly written -- they hire young writers to appeal to the younger demographic. I think King lost it in part after Kubrick's version of The Shining. King hated that movie, and Kubrick hated the book. There are scenes in the movie that are openly mocking King -- the kid driving his big wheel to dramatic effect with nothing happening; trying to open a door that's locked; the guy in the rabbit head servicing the man on the bed. Kubrick said he thought nothing could be as scary as a human losing his mind, and that's how the movie is structured; the "supernatural" stuff is all mocking comic relief. In an existential world, there is no reason to invent fear. All you gotta do is pay attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsfan Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Only read two, The Shining and The Stand and really liked both, but I'm not a King fan. The first Dark Tower book is good too, The Gunslinger. Don't bother with the rest of them. And for his other novels, Salem's Lot was a decent read, but quit while you are ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliaz Posted July 13, 2006 Author Share Posted July 13, 2006 Yeh what is the dark tower series about anyways? It's not horror is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piranha Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 It just seems to me that after "The Stand" he has lost the ability to tell a scary story. I'm watching Nightmares and Dreamscapes right now and it's aweful. I thought the same thing after Dream Catchers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliaz Posted July 13, 2006 Author Share Posted July 13, 2006 I thought the same thing after Dream Catchers Dream Catchers was terrible. All he did there was go back to the short story called "The Body" or for all of you movie fans "Stand by me" and then added the elements from "The TommyKnockers" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 That's true in pop music, but not writing. Young writers tend to suck because they're too self-absorbed and haven't experienced anything. There are exceptions, of course, but there are far more young Jack Keroac types writing crap than, say, Rimbauds writing something substantive. That why most TV and movies are so horribly written -- they hire young writers to appeal to the younger demographic. To a certain extent I'd agree. Cerebreal writers get better as they get older, but King was one of those authors that wrote with his balls. Horror is more of a heavy-metal style. I think he was really awsome when he first started writing non-horror stuff, but he's lost me over the years. The beginning of the Dark Tower was much better than the end. Maybe it also has something to do with his near-death experience changing him though. He got whomped by a van several years ago and was barely hanging on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Misfit Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Maybe it also has something to do with his near-death experience changing him though. He got whomped by a van several years ago and was barely hanging on. For my money, the best thing he's written was his non-fiction book "On Writing," where he talks about his near-death experience. I like it because he hates adverbs so much, and he's pretty funny. He not only was hurt by the hit, but also that he almost died and no literary critic takes him seriously. That bothers him a lot, and has probably affected his later fiction, which tends to be overwritten. In going with your havey-metal theory, don't forget young Steve was quite the drug quaffer. Edgar Allen Poe demonstrated that writing good horror requires the paranoia and weirdness that goes with a good drug addiction. Steve doesn't even drink anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonKnight Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Clive Barker has always, IMO, been the better horror writer. This is comming from someone who grew up with every SK novel ever written on his bookshelves, my mom was a hugh fan. If you're a fan of SK's horror and never read any Clive Barker, you're in for a treat. Early works: Books of Blood 1,2. Coming into his own: Weaveworld, Damnation Game. Masterworks: Imajica, The Great and Secret Show. But, like SK, Clive has been in a steady decline in quality fantasy writing and seems to be concentrating on his artwork lately. One of his most recent works is an illustrated "childrens" book that is amazing, Abarat. Supposedly in production with Disney for the movie. Hes come a Loooooong way from Hellraiser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 In going with your havey-metal theory, don't forget young Steve was quite the drug quaffer. Edgar Allen Poe demonstrated that writing good horror requires the paranoia and weirdness that goes with a good drug addiction. Steve doesn't even drink anymore. I forgot about that. That probably had a much bigger effect than the van-whomping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kung-fu Midgets Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I don't think you can judge Stephen King by the movies/TV shows he's put out. I'd say that only The Shining, Misery and Shawshank Redemption.... and possibly Cujo and/or Carrie were worthwhile. Most everything else that's been produced hasn't been worth anything... which is a shame because he really is a quality writer for his genre... IMO. Did anyone see the TV mini series of The Stand with Gary Sinise and Molly Ringwald back in the late 80s/early 90s? God awful. But the book was fantastic! King as a writer... I've enjoyed most of his stuff... horror and non-horror. The Stand, The Dark Tower Series, The Talisman, Salem's Lot, It, Christine, DreamCatcher, His Short-Story/Novella collections, The Green Mile, Desperation. I agree his non-fiction work, On-Writing, also very good. He's had a few bombs here and there, like most writers... but he's got lots of talent and incorporates some of his characters/ideas throughout different novels (which is fun). I'll still read his stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.